How to Stream Amazon Instant Video on Android Tablets

2 August 2015

One of the stronger selling point for the Kindle Fire Android tablets is that they can stream Amazon Instant Video. While you can stream the videos on the iPad or iPhone no other Android tablet has the integrated app found on the Kindle Fire.

Update 12 September 2014: Amazon has released a new version of their shopping app for Android. It now supports Prime Video, so there are now two ways to access Amazon instant video on your Android device.

Once you have the apps installed, log in to your Amazon account. Navigate through the menu on the left and find the Instant video option. Select it.

If you can stream video, great. If you cannot, or if the app crashes, you should try the unofficial solution.

The unOfficial Way

If you spend a little time installing and configuring a couple files, you can stream Amazon Instant Video on just about any of the newer Android tablets. This is a pretty simple trick which should be in the reach of most Android users. (If you can do the software maintenance on your PC then you can do this.)

Note: This trick won't work on the Nook HD or HD+, but there is a possible alternate solution. Scroll down to troubleshooting section at the end of the post for more details.

Note: This trick has been demonstrated as not working on Android 4.4, at least according to one user who left a comment over on TeleRead (where I learned of this trick). If your Android device runs 4.4 Kitkat, scroll down to the bottom of the page for an alternate set of instructions. It's also failed to work properly on some devices, so caveat emptor.

Note: This trick won't work for accounts on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de. Those streaming video platforms don't support Flash.

This trick has been documented as working on:

Nexus 7

Hisense Sero 7 Pro

Nexus 10

Galaxy Tab 10.1

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2

Galaxy S3

What you're going to do is install Adobe Flash and a web browser that includes the option of changing the user agent. Chrome won't work for this (not for me, anyway).

Step One

The first thing you need is Dolphin Browser (or another web browser that lets you change the user agent). You can find it in Google Play.

Next, download the file attached to the first post in this XDA Forms discussion and install it:

There are a number of ways to install the file. You can email the link to yourself and then open the email on your Android device and download it direct. You can copy the file over USB, or you can copy the file to and from Dropbox. It doesn't matter how you get the file on your device, just install it. (This step won't work on the Nook HD, so just skip it.)

Step Two

Once you have both Adobe Flash and Dolphin Browser installed, open Dolphin Browser and I'll walk you through the steps needed to stream Amazon Instant Video.

Step Three

At this point your tablet is set up to stream video but Amazon won't let you because they don't support Android devices. Here's how you get around that.

Press the dolphin icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen (see image one below).

Select the settings icon (see image two below).

Choose the customize option (see image three below).

Select the user agent option (see image four below).

Set the user agent to desktop, and then press the back button. (Don't leave the settings menu)

Step Four

Now that you changed the user agent, it's time to enable Flash support. Dolphin defaults to having Adobe Flash disabled, and you need to change this option in the settings menu.

Scroll down and select the Web Content option (see image six below).

Find the Flash option and select it (see image seven below).

Change it from off to either Always On or On Demand (see image eight below).

At this point you should be able to go back to the Amazon website, reload it, and start streaming videos. Or at least, I can do it. Here's a screenshot from my Hisense Sero 7 Pro:

It works, yes, but not very well. My Sero 7 Pro has trouble keeping the audio and video in sync when I play SD resolution video (I won't even try HD video). Let me tell you, this gives me greater appreciation for the work that Amazon put into the Kindle Fire HD.

But this still works immensely better than it did before. Out of sync audio is better than none at all, IMO.

Troubleshooting

Firefox - If the above instructions don't work for you, there are reports that you can do a similar trick with the Firefox Android browser. I haven't tried it, but I think it's worth a shot.

Android 4.4 - If you are using an Android device which runs 4.4 KitKat, you'll need to add a couple extra steps. The instructions above won't quite work for you, so you should instead follow this set of instructions on XDA Forums.

Microsoft Silverlight - If you try to stream a video and get an error message which says something about MS Silverlight, zoom in on that message. Do you see how the next line mentions Flash? Click it.

Nook HD - The above instructions kinda sorta work on the Nook HD+; you just have to go through a different step to install Adobe Flash. (You could also hack the tablet and install CyanogenMod, but I am too lazy for that.)

Ignore the steps above which tell you to install Adobe Flash; they won't work for you. Instead, here's what you have to do:

You have to change the Amazon video settings to Flash — Silverlight is their default. Do it on their website. You might have to change back to Silverlight for the best viewing experience on an actual computer.

I’ve successfully used the B&N Flash app plus Dolphin browser to get this to work on my unrooted Nook HD+. Video/audio sync is slightly off but not too bad. Thanks for the guidance, Nate!

The pictures in the article weren’t accurate for me and I had to do a bit of sleuthing to find everything mentioned (namely the setting for the user agent), but following the directions given her and changing the settings at Amazon from Silverlight to Flash is working for me so far on my Nook HD+. The experience is slightly rough with mini pauses every now and then, but it is working. And it’s better than nothing.

I just tried this on my Galaxy Tab 3 8.0. I got it to work but apparently the Dolphin browser has been updated since these instructions were written. The pages no longer appear exactly as they do above, but the steps are still generally the same. Also the link in Step 1 above for downloading and installing Adobe Flash Player no longer works. Here is a link that does work.

Love Windows 8. Yes there is a bit of a learning curve but when you have it set up properly it looks just like Windows 7 with some added perks. I have a regular desktop so I can get to everything I am able get to on Win 7. Give it a chance.

Yeah…got a Lenovo Lynx that keeps crashing. Looked it up and it’s a MS Windows 8/8.1 problem. Waiting for a hot fix. It was working ok before the updates. Sucks because the Lynx gets great reviews otherwise.

Two Notes. 1. Flash was already set to “Always On” when I installed the latest version of Dolphin. 2. You have to initially orient the tablet vertically so that you can see the buttons for “full screen”, etc

Dolphin is one of the true “Nook Apps” that keeps getting updated. Definitely worth having around if you haven’t gone full metal Google Play on your NookHD or HD+. My understanding was that flash support was built in to Dolphin up through KitKat, and post-Kitkat, you have to download the “Dolphin Jetpack”, because sideloading Adobe .APKs stopped working. (Not that any non-modded Nook has KitKat on it…)

Also, the B&N “browser plugin” has gone through some changes of its own. Originally, there was a version which enabled Flash on the pre-Google Play NookHD stock browser.

Hello. On galaxy tab 10 with 4.2 the issue is the Flash is installed for the Android but when in Desktop mode it shows not installed. Amazon wont stream to Android and no flash is installed when in Desktop mode for me at least. Dolphin Flash works with youtube though on Android mode.

I have a note that shows below yours, though it was earlier, and right now I’ve misplaced my Samsung Tab 10.1 with a 4.x.x Android system but I can’t confirm which one it is. On my other tablets I do have to stipulate that in web content, the javascript should be enabled and Flash always on (with Desktop mode on all my tablets).

I believe I am having the same problem. I’ve downloaded adobe many times, but when I go to stream it says I need to download it again.? I’m not sure if I saving it in the wrong spot or how to get it to run.

I’ve used it. It needed a few workarounds. Originally, the tablet would not allow me to download the amazon shopping app (for mobile) and only the one for tablets (that was the only one available in the playstore), which didn’t allow me to use amazon instant. I then downloaded the amazon app store from the tablet shopping app, in order to download the mobile amazon shopping app, which then allowed me to download the instant play app.

Just set it up on my daughter’s Samsung Galaxy tab 3 7″ kids tab. took a bit to get everything installed but now it’s working great. I didn’t have the flash option under the spaceflight option either but then I went to my prime settings on the amazon website and changed the default player from spaceflight to flash.

It’s always worked for me on the Samsung. Using my longtime instructions at bit.ly/kwt1022 for Flash video via broadcasting networks for Kindle Fire HD/HDX tablets, where I recommend User Agent ‘Desktop’ — it works w/o glitches on my Galaxy Tab 10.1 with latest OS update.

But I’m on Comcast Cable which is very fast and the DSL hookups seem more problematical for others who are on the default tier that barely gives enough speed for this. I don’t use the 10.1 Galaxy much except to test Android things with it, since it does not have the amazing HD quality of either the Kindle Fires or the Nexus tablets, but Instant Prime works beautifully on it thanks to that Dolphin user agent feature. At first it tried to get me to download Silverlight but then said I could use Adobe Flash instead, which has been on the tablet just to get good Flash Video from other websites, since Android was targeted by Adobe for non-support.

Say, Nate, I sprang for the Samsung bluetooth keyboard cover for it in 2012 and it has a nicely flexible kickstand Maybe nothing to breakdance over. Definitely lighter altogether than my Surface Pro 2 with typepad cover, but it doesn’t run full Windows Photoshop CC nor full MS Ofc etc. I did like it a lot when I used it more that year, since it has add-on USB and SD add-ons.

On Galaxy Note 8.0 you must use a dolphin browser, and of course flash following all the set up listed above. I got the silverlight request and clicking adobe flash was only half the process. I also had to click the ‘play now’ button and then click the ‘down arrow’ that is usually looking like a download icon. This will seem obvious after you do it, but it is a little discouraging that once you hit “Watch with Adobe Flash” button it reverts back to the “play now” splash screen. And more discouraging that once you hit play again it doesn’t start playing yet.

Works great on a Samsung Galaxy S4 4.4, no audio issues or stuttering when streaming through my wifi. It won’t go full screen which is a bummer, but, it’s better than nothing, which is all Amazon has given us in two years time.

I’ve been a Prime member since they unrolled the program and I feel really short changed they don’t have an Android App for their movies by now.

Edit: Pressing the Fullscreen button repeatedly changed it to the Amazon full screen, so, workaround works great! Thanks!

I have a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tab and a Samsung phone and on both — press the screen while watching, and at bottom right of the Instant video there’ll be an icon for Full Screen and if I press it once, it works. Don’t know why you’d need to press it several times but you have a later Android OS than mine.

I’ve downloaded both the Dolphin Browser and the Adobe flash as instructed. I changed the flash settings as well. Amazon is still telling me I need to install a flash player. Any help on where I’m going wrong would be appreciated. I have a Galaxy 10.1 tab.

I mentioned earlier that using my longtime instructions at http://bit.ly/kwt1022 for Flash video via broadcasting networks for Kindle Fire HD/HDX tablets, for which I recommend User Agent ‘Desktop’ setting also — works w/o glitches on my Galaxy Tab 10.1 with latest OS update. I tested it with Amazon Prime Instant Videos recommended on the Amazon Prime video page.

But I’m on Comcast Cable which is very fast and the DSL hookups seem more problematical for others who are on the default tier that barely gives enough speed for this. BUT I also use slightly different files, so you might want to try it.

I miss the HD when using the Galaxy 10.1 Tab though but it’s still not bad.

Wanted to add that newer Kindle Fire tablets and even pure-Android users with the latest OS versions have had problems just running Flash reliably for versions released in 2014 or end of 2013. I updated an article on that, for later models, which is now at http://bit.ly/kwv1229 … with sourcing for the Fire tablet files of course different from googleplay, which doesn’t recognize the Fire line.

A Flash file was put together by surviveland to work with browsers like Dolphin despite 3 missing pieces in yr2014 versions of Android.

While paid Puffin is nice (and even free Puffin in daytime hours), the resolution is low w/o options to increase it at HD sites.

Followed the guide to the letter on my Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 (very easy to follow) and I get the message about installing Silverlight, however, I do not get an option to select Flash. Am I missing something?

You are brilliant!! I am a Amazon prime member and was looking into buying a Kindle just for the video streaming. I have a Galaxy Tab2 running Android 4.1.1 your walkthrough works perfectly! I streamed in HD, no audio issues. I only use wifi, so not sure how it performs other ways.

I also got the install Silver Light, but underneath mine it said “Continue with Adobe Flash” in small print. I clicked on that, and I was through.

Have checked all settings and they are definitely correct. There is only an option to select Silver Light and no option to select Flash Player. Just tried it on my wife’s Nexus 4 tonight and still no luck. Is it a Nexus or a KitKat problem? Anyone have it working on later Nexus models or anything at all running KitKat?